The nitroglycerin exercise test.
The nitroglycerin (NTG) exercise test can help in detecting ischemia in the presence of right bundle branch block (RBBB), left bundle branch block (LBBB), or digitalis-induced exercise ST changes and in excluding ischemia when a falsely positive test is suspected. This treadmill test has 3-min stages at 10% grade starting at 1.5 mph and progressing in 0.5 mph increments until ST depression is observed. NTG is then given as exercise continues at the ischemia-provoking work load for up to 10 min. Among 3 patients with RBBB, 5 with LBBB, 1 on digitalis and 2 with presumed falsely positive tests, those whose ST depression lessened after NTG had ischemic thallium exercise scans; those with no change in ST depression after NTG had normal thallium images. Additional studies are needed to verify the consistency of these findings among a larger group of patients.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005996:Nitroglycerin
D005996:Nitroglycerin